NRL coronavirus: Wayne Bennett says NRL needs Plan B to save 2020 season
COVID-19 will force the NRL to lock out fans from next week. But Wayne Bennett fears it is only a matter of time until a player is diagnosed with coronavirus.
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South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett fears it is only a matter of time before a player contracts coronavirus but hopes a “Plan B” solution can save the NRL competition from being derailed.
As ARL Commission chiefs gathered for crisis talks, Bennett believes his proposal to effectively quarantine all 16 clubs in one region for a Magic Round-style series of games can prevent the NRL from being suspended.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has vowed to do everything possible to honour the NRL’s $1.8 billion broadcasting deal.
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Bennett says there is a possibility the NRL season could face the prospect of suspension if a player came down with the COVID-19 virus, but hopes his idea to shift clubs to Brisbane or Townsville could help combat the health crisis.
Step one came on Friday when NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg backed moves for fans to be locked out of games starting next weekend.
“It’s only a matter of time before a player gets coronavirus. It’s on the cards,” Bennett said.
“We are all part of the community, we aren’t quarantined from society.
“Plan A has to be they continue the competition now with no fans at games, but it’s only a matter of time before someone gets the virus and if that happens they might have to suspend the competition indefinitely.
“Plan B (to be isolated in one location) gives us hope and opportunity and maybe we could pull that off.
“We need to go to a place where there is less likelihood of being infected. We have had the Magic Weekend, we know how it works and that’s how we run it, with all 16 teams in the one area.
“The health experts say coronavirus is harder to contract in higher temperatures such as Townsville. So if the NRL decides to proceed, I would take all 16 teams up to one region and we fulfil our TV commitments and sponsor commitments.”
Medical experts say coronavirus is highly sensitive to the type of high temperatures experienced in Queensland’s far north.
But the notion of housing all 16 teams in Townsville is logistically difficult. Hotels were booked out for Friday night’s Broncos-Cowboys derby, let alone finding long-term accommodation for more than 400 NRL players, coaches and staff.
Suspending the season would cripple the code financially _ the mere thought of cancelling State of Origin would be a disaster _ and Bennett accepts there is no easy solution.
“If a player gets infected in the next three months, what’s going to happen. His team won’t be able to play,” he said.
“They have closed down the Australian Grand Prix. The NBA isn’t playing. Spanish soccer isn’t playing.
“The NRL can’t give us an exact time frame. No-one can. If they do, they are lying to you.
“No-one has any idea what the future holds until they can develop a vaccine or whatever the authorities need to do.
“As soon as a player gets infected, that club is gone for at least two weeks. What happens to their team and their team’s opposition?
“We are talking about huge money lost, I know that.
“My idea (to stage all games in one region) could save the game from going bankrupt.
“The salary cap all up this season is about $160 million. We are in the fifth month of payments so we still owe about $80 or $90 million to the players.
“Where is that going to come from?
“My idea around having all 16 teams in one area could give us some hope.
“So the NRL may take the risk to play on ... or we decide to suspend the competition indefinitely.”
Coronavirus: How NRL will combat fan lockout
-Peter Badel, David Riccio, Nick Walshaw
The NRL will provide a fighting fund in excess of $10 million to help clubs after chief executive Todd Greenberg confirmed fans will be locked out indefinitely following the global coronavirus crisis.
Greenberg said rugby league fans will be able to attend the NRL’s round-one fixtures this weekend but from round two, the doors will close on supporters for the first time in the code’s 112-year history.
The NRL’s stance came after Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the COVID-19 threat, urging the public to avoid non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people.
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That figure sounded alarm bells for NRL officialdom, prompting Greenberg to back an indefinite ban on fans attending NRL matches from next week until the code is given the green light from medical experts.
The move to restrict access at NRL venues to players, referees, coaches and media only will rock the code. The Courier-Mail understands clubs will hemorrhage between $500,000 to $1 million for empty seats at home games, with Greenberg admitting he has no idea how long supporters will be locked out.
“We are in unprecedented times,” Greenberg said.
“I can’t put a time frame on it and nor can the government.
“The timing of this (fan lockout) will be directed by the government authorities and we will listen carefully and take their advice on the way through.
“In round two, when we get into the second week of competition, our games will continue to proceed as planned, albeit our stadiums will be closed to fans.
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“The most important message I can give is the health and safety of our players and fans is paramount.
“It will be disappointing that fans can’t watch their teams. We want fans to be interacting with their teams, hopefully it’s for a finite period of time, but I don’t know what the time frame is, I don’t know that answer.”
Greenberg is confident State of Origin, which starts in June, will not be affected by the coronavirus saga, but he pledged to protect the financial interests of the 16 clubs.
“It (the lockout) is going to have significant financial impacts for all of our clubs and for all of our game centrally,” he said.
“I’ve just stepped out of a conference call with all 16 club CEOs and the message I gave them was simple - we are in this together.
“The game will be right behind our 16 clubs and we will leave no-one behind.
“If there’s some financial difficulties, we will make sure we keep them afloat and whole. The sport is in this together. We are aligned in our views and we will need to show strong leadership, we will need to show an even temperament and demeanour, we need to listen carefully to people who know more about it than we do and then we need to make clear decisions and communicate those decisions so all our fans and players understand why we are doing it.
“We will be in unknown territory next week. We will be playing games without fans in attendance, that’s going to be difficult for us, we haven’t done it before. Those games will be played on television and we hope our fans tune in and watch them.”
A $500,000 injection in financial aid to each of the 16 clubs would cost the NRL around $8 million, but that figure could easily exceed $10 million if lockouts occur for more than a fortnight.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said he is concerned about the effect the coronavirus saga could have on the bottom line of NRL clubs.
“We are looking at financial aid right now and we will call on special means from the Commission if required,” he said.
“I am looking at financial grants to clubs to ensure their viability and make sure they meet their obligations.
“We don’t know the exact amount, that’s part of our analysis and what each club requires, but it will be significant given all clubs would require assistance.”
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A rugby league game slated for regional NSW this weekend has been postposed after one of the players involved had to be tested for coronavirus.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the player, who has undergone precautionary testing, is part of a side competing in the 2020 Women’s Country Championship competition.
The decision to postpone the game, which was supposed to take place in Coffs Harbour, comes as the NRL is also in discussions about banning fans from attending all events.
It also now appears there could be far wider implications for rugby league competitions across the country at grassroots level, with many junior and senior league competitions already playing trial games in both NSW and Queensland.
It is understood the women’s match has been postponed after one of the participants reported for coronavirus testing this week.
The player, who will not have her results until the end of the weekend, was sent for testing given she attends the same university as someone who has tested positive.
The NSWRL is currently working closely with both governments and NRL chief medical officer Dr Paul Bloomfield on the issue.
Originally published as NRL coronavirus: Wayne Bennett says NRL needs Plan B to save 2020 season